File drawer



Jan. 10, 1956 F. D. JONAS ETAL FILE DRAWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.19, 1953 INI/ENTORS, ,FQICK-D. (J61 TH ATTOR NE I'd,

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Jan. 10, 1956 F. D. JONAS ET AL FILE DRAWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov.19, 1953 MATTORNEYJ,

FILE DRAWER Frank 1), Jonas, Upper Brookville, and Edward D. Patterson,Sea Cliff, N. Y., assignors to Oxford Filing Supply o., Inn, GardenCity, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 19, 1953,Serial No. 393,157 12 (Ilaims. (Cl. 229-30) The present inventionrelates to drawer structures and particularly to file drawers.

More particularly still the invention relates to a file drawerconstructed of corrugated paper board or the like which may be shippedin an opened-out flat condition and readily erected into the usualdrawer structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide a drawer which is formedprimarily of corrugated paper board and which is so organized that itmay be shipped in an opened-out flat condition and may be readilyassembled into the drawer form by the user without special tools.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a drawer whereinmeans are provided for locking the upstanding sides into position whichmeans are readily unlatched without the use of special tools so that thedrawer may be again opened into a flat condition either for storage orfor further shipment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a drawerstructure having a metal-clad front and provided with the usual handleand place for a label or card intended to identify the drawer contents.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent when thefollowing description is considered in connection with the annexeddrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled drawer, the viewlikewise showing in dotted lines the appearance of the structure whenthe left hand side wall has been folded into the plane of the base;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the drawer in its fiat condition prior toerection into the completed form;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of the structure of Figure 2, thesection being taken on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the paper board blank with the lockingelements in place but prior' to the folding of the various elements ofthe blank to form the final drawer structure;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the blank of Figure 4, the viewbeing taken on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the mating locking members, one ofwhich is located on a side wall and the other on the end wall of thedrawer. This View shows the members in the positions which they assumewhen the drawer has been assembled and illustrates particularly the modeof locking the drawer walls into their erected position;

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the constructionof the front wall of the drawer, the view being taken on the plane ofthe line 77 of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the left-hand forward corner of thedrawer structure showing the mode of locking a side wall to the frontwall, the view being taken on the plane of the line 88 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a completedfile drawer in accordance with the innited States Patent 0 being placedat each end 2,730,292 Patented Jan. 10, 1956 vention, the drawercomprising a base 16), side walls 11 and 12, a rear wall 13 and a front14.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be seen that the side Wall 11 isprovided with the score lines 15 and 16 and the side wall portion 11 ofthe blank is separated from the base 10 by an additional score line 17.In like manner, side wall portion 12 of the blank is provided with scorelines 18 and 20 and is separated from the base portion by the score line21. The front wall portion 14 of the box blank is provided with thescore lines 22, 23, 24 and 25 and is separated from the base portion ofthe blank by the score line 26. It should be noted that score lines 23and 24 are parallel to and slightly offset from the score lines 17 and21 respectively.

In a similar manner the rear wall portion of the blank is provided withthe score lines 27, 28, 30 and 31 and with a further score line 32 whichseparates the rear wall portion of the blank from the base 10.Additionally, the rear wall portion 13 is provided with a flap 33, theblank being scored along the line 34 separating the flap from the mainrear wall portion 13. Here again it should be noted that the score lines28 and 30 are parallel to and slightly apart from the score lines 17 and21.

With the blank opened out and in the condition shown in Figure 4, thelatching elements designated 35 and 36 are positioned as shown in thedrawing, an element 35 of each of the side walls 11 and 12 and anelement 36 being placed adjacent the score lines 23, 24, 28 and St onthe front and rear walls 13 and 14.

Referring now to Figure 6 it will be seen that each locking element 35comprises a plate-like member 37 having an extending tongue 38 formedthereon and offset from the plane of the plate 37, the tongueterminating in a notched portion 40. Additionally, the element 35 at itsopposite end is provided with a portion 41 offset from the plane of theplate in the direction opposite to the offsetting of the tongue 38. Thepeculiar configuration of the plate 37 shown in the drawings resultsfrom the fact that these plates are stamped from a continuous strip. Itwill of course be clear that the elements 35 are of two types differingonly in that the tongue of one type is offset in a direction opposite tothe tongues of the second type.

The mating locking element 36 is likewise formed from sheet metal andcomprises a plate having a notch 42 on one edge thereof, the materialbeing bent first forwardly, then parallel to the main body of thematerial, then again rearwardly forming the channel-shaped member 43,this member having a bar 44 extending in a vertical direction at therear of the element 36. The channel member 43 is provided with anopening 45 at its left hand edge, as seen in Figure 6, this openingbeing composed of a wider entrance portion and a narrower terminatingportion lying adjacent the right hand vertical wall of the channel 43.Additionally, the material from which the element 36 is formed ispunched out to form a latching tongue 46 which is bent out of the planeof the element 36 in a forward direction.

It will be seen from the above and by reference to Figure 6 that thetongue 38 may be inserted in the wider entrance opening of the cutoutportion 44 of the channel 42 with the notches in the portion 40 ofmember 35 lying in the plane of the forward wall of the channel 43 andthen moved to the right as seen in Figure 6 until the opposing portionsof the opening in wall 43 lie in the notches of a portion 40 of tongue38. At this time the tongue 46 of the member 36 will have been pressedtoward the rear by the tongue 38 of member 35 and will have sprungforwardly to lie in the path of movement of the tongue 38 and preventdisengagement of tongue 38 from the mating opening in the forward wallof channel 43.

Referring now again to Figure 4, it will be seen that the outermostportion of each of the side walls 11 and 12 is provided with a pair ofslits all of which are designated 47. These slits are so located as tofit over the upstanding portions 41 of the locking members 35 when thelocking members are positioned as indicated in Figure 4 with theirtongues extending beyond the edges of the side walls 11 and 12 and withtheir corresponding edges in align ment with the forward and rearwardedges of the side walls 11 and 12. When the locking members 35 have beenthus positioned the blank is folded inwardly along the score lines 15and 18 and glued and then again folded inwardly along the score lines 16and 20 and again glued, resulting in the side walls appearing as shownin Figure 2. It should be noted that the bent off portions 41 of lockingmembers are provided with small teats 48 extending beyond the edge ofthe portions 41. Thus when the outermost flaps are bent inwardly alongthe lines 15 and 18 the portions 41 lie substantially completely withinthe slots 47, that is, portions 41 are of substantially the samethickness as the paper board of which the drawer is formed. Portions 48,however, extend beyond the paper board and when the subsequent fold ismade these portions penetrate into the material of the innermost flap,thus also contributing to holding the locking elements 35 in theirproper positions.

The outer sections of the front and rear wall portions 13 and 14 are ina similar manner provided with slits all of which are designated 50,which slits are positioned to overlie the vertical extensions 44 of thelatching or locking elements 36. Locking elements 36 are located asindicated particularly in Figure 4, small rectangular portions of thematerial being cutout to provide for the insertion of the channelmembers 43 which channel members have a depth substantially equal to thethickness of the paper board material. When the locking members havebeen located as above indicated, the outer flaps are folded inwardlyalong the core lines 22, 25, 2'7 and 31 placing the respective slits 50over the bars 44 of the associated locking members, and the materialglued. Thereafter, the material is again folded inwardly along the lines23, 24, 28 and 30. Next the flap 33 of the rear wall 13 is folded alongthe score line 34 and in the position shown in Figure 3. As a furtherstep a front 51, which may conveniently be of sheet metal havinginturned upper and side edges as indicated at 52 and 53 (Figure 1) isplaced over the front 14 and held in place by a U-shaped member 54having brad-like extensions 55 thereon which brad-like extensions passthrough the folded paper board structure and through a strap 56 and arethen bent over to hold the metal facing 51 and the U-shaped member 54 inplace. It should be noted that the U-shaped member 54 is inserted abouta portion of a handle 57 so that it serves both to hold the metal facing51 in place and to also hold the handle in position.

The structure as heretofore described and as shown in Figure 3 iscompleted and it is intended that it be forwarded in this condition tothe user. At the point of use the side walls are folded upwardly alongthe score lines 17 and 21 and the front and rear walls likewise foldedupwardly along the score lines 26 and 32. With the walls in thisupstanding condition the side walls may be moved inwardly slightlybeyond the vertical position thereby aligning the tongues 38 with theopenings 45 in the channels 43, after which a movement of the side wallsto the exact vertical position will cause engagement of the notches ofthe portion of tongues 38 with a narrow terminating portion of theopenings of the channels 43 so that the side walls .are locked to thefront and rear walls, it being understood that the tongues 46 will snapinto place and it will prevent movement of the side walls in anydirection as well as movement of the front and rear walls. In brief, arigid unitary drawer structure will he formed by the action of thelocking members 35 and 36.

When the structure has been erected in the manner above-described, theprotruding tongues 38 of the latch members 35 are completely hidden andonly a small portion of the mating latch members 36 is visible.Furthermore, due to the multi-folded condition of the paper board fromwhich the drawer is made, the structure is rigid and has considerablestrength. Additionally, due to the use of the metal front piece thedrawer is identical in appearance with the drawers commonly utilized andwhich are fabricated entirely of metal. The metal front 51 may beprovided with slits, such as shown at 60 in Figure 1, through which thecorners of an identifying label or tag may be inserted, this tag ofcourse bearing an indication of the contents of the particular filedrawer.

While we have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it willbe understood that we wish to be limited not by the foregoingdescription, but solely by the claims granted to us.

What is claimed is:

1. In a file drawer structure, in combination, a base and side, frontand rear walls each formed of plural thicknesses of paper board, theside walls having latching members at each end thereof, said latchingmembers having tongues protruding beyond the ends of said side walls,the remainder of said members being enclosed between the thicknesses ofsaid paper board, apertured latching members facing inwardly and locatedadjacent the side edges of said front and rear walls, said aperturedlatching members being held between thicknesses of said paper board,apertured portions of said mating members lying substantially flush withthe inner surface of the inner thickness of said paper board, saidportions cooperating with said tongues of said first mentioned membersto lock said side, front and rear walls in upstanding position and meansfor locking said tongues in said apertured latching members.

2. A drawer as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said firstmentioned latching members comprise plates and said tongues are notchedand further characterized in that said second-mentioned latching membersare provided with opposed wall portions adapted to enter the notches inthe tongues of said first-mentioned latching members.

3. A drawer as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that saidfirst-mentioned latching members each comprise a plate having a tongueformed integrally therewith, said plates each having a portion thereofbent over at right angles to the plane thereof to form a projection, andfurther characterized in that one thickness of said paper board isprovided with a slit into which said projection extends to fix saidlatching member in position in its associated side Wall.

4. A drawer structure as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that eachof said second-mentioned latching members comprises a plate having avertically extending channel bent therefrom, said channel having anopening in one side wall and the front thereof, said opening beingadapted to receive said notched tongue of the cooperating firstmentionedlatching member.

5. A drawer structure as claimed in claim 4, further characterized inthat each of said second mentioned latching members has a-finger portionstamped therefrom, said finger extending perpendicularly to saidchannel, the end of said finger lying adjacent the tongue of thecooperating first-mentioned latching member, said finger serving to holdsaid first-mentioned tongue in position in said opening of saidsecond-mentioned latching member.

6. A drawer structure as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that eachsaid channel member is of substantially the same thickness as said paperboard material, said channel being inserted in an opening cut in onethickness of said material, the body portion of each said latchingmember being positioned between the thicknesses of the front or rearwall and the face of said channel being flush with the inner surface ofthe corresponding front or rear wall.

7. In a drawer structure, in combination, a base, side walls and rearwalls, means for holding said walls in position at right angles to theplane of said base, said means comprising separable pairs of positivelylocking latching members enclosed between folded-over portions of thematerial of which said base, side and end walls, are formed, said sidewalls comprising a lower portion of a single thickness of material andan upper portion having three thicknesses of material, said materialbeing glued together after folding, said latching members moving intopositive locking position in a direction at right angles to the planesof the side walls.

8. In a drawer structure, in combination, a base, side walls and rearwalls, means for holding said walls in position at right angles to theplane of said base, said means comprising latching members all of whichare enclosed between folded-over portions of the material of which saidbase, side and end walls, are formed, said front and rear wallscomprising three thicknesses of material, and being formed by folding ablank section of substantially three times the width of the drawerinwardly along score lines extending perpendicularly to the drawer base,said score lines being positioned at each edge of said front and rearwalls and at points spaced outwardly from said first-mentioned scoreline a distance equal to half the drawer width, said portions beingglued after folding.

9. A drawer structure as claimed in claim 8, characterized in thatlatching members are inserted adjacent the score lines defining thewidth of the drawer, said latching members having projections extendingoutwardly from the plane thereof, and further characterized in that theoutermost edges of the rear and front wall blanks are provided withslits, said slits being adapted to engage said projections when saidfolding is performed, to thereby lock said latching members in placebetween the thicknesses of said front and rear walls.

10. A knock-down drawer comprising a single sheet of fibrous materialfolded upon a multiple of score lines to form plural layer side and endwalls, each side wall having a plate at each free corner secured betweenthe layers forming the wall, each such plate having a latching tongueconsisting of an enlarged head joined to the plate with a narrow neck,and each end wall having a plate at each side secured between the layersforming the wall, each such plate having an aperture consisting of alarge portion and a communicating narrow portion, the head of eachtongue passing through the large portion of the aperture of theassociated plate and movable at right angles to the plane of the tongueso that its neck lies in the narrow portion of the aperture in a lockedposition when the drawer is set up.

11. In the combination of claim 10, a locking finger for holding eachtongue in locked position.

12. In the combination of claim 10, a locking finger for holding eachtongue in locked position, each tongue comprising a resilient cantileverintegral with the associated plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

